1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee consumer reviews

We owned this for 5 years. It's a very reliable vehicle. No major problems. Always started. Great in snow.

We owned this for 5 years. It's a very reliable vehicle. No major problems. Always started. Great in snow.

Family car driven mostly locally, a few cosmetic issues strong engine and transmission new alternator and battery.fairly new 60,000 mile tires reliable transportation

I owned this car and had the 5.2L V8. It certainly taught me some lessons about how to take care of a car. If you weren't careful the transmission would not shift properly (bad tourque converter) and all of the electronics really only worked when they felt like it.

I have a stock 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) with the 5.2L. This thing is a beast. I don't understand why Jeep varied from this format. Even stock this thing will go anywhere. I just went camping up to the top of a certain mountain in Colorado (don't want to give away my camping spot). When I got to the very top, there were two Wrangler guys ranting and raving on how amazed they were that a stock ZJ made it to the top of the 4x4 trail, telling me how good of a driver I must be. I told them it was all the Jeep. You put it together body on fram with solid axles. Full-time four wheel drive, and a 5.2L 318 CID V8. The thing is a beast and has been very durable for 225,000 miles. My brother has the 4.0 and his is over 290,000 miles with no issues (probably more reliable motor than mine even now). Jeep pretty well died when they stopped using this format.

I have the '96 Limited Automatic. Comfort & Interior Design: The cheap plastic interior is made up for with very comfortable (and heated) leather seats. There's a lot of room in the back, and you can fold down the back seats for extra space. I've fit my whole bedroom in the back of it when moving (lol). Performance: Engine eats oil and guzzles gas but has power behind it. The 4WD makes it safer to take out in bad weather. Great for towing. Value: The engine is easy to maintain. It will get about 15 miles to the gallon on average. Mine is at 15.2 (averaged) to be exact. So I make plenty trips to the gas station. I spend 40 dollars a week on gas. Exterior Styling: My car is 'forest green pearl' colored. I know it also came in nine other color options. The clear coat on mine has started to peel off on the roof and hood (this is an easy fix). The Laredo trim option will have one of the ten colors with dark grey bumpers/skirts. The Limited variety will have the body and bumpers/skirts painted uniformly. Reliability: This will vary, obviously. Mine had been dependable for most of the time I've owned it, aside from some fuel problems and bad sensors the former owner neglected to tell me about. The car is incredibly safe as well; I was in a wreck with it at about 20 miles per hour, I was unscathed and only a few problems resulted that were relatively cheap and easy to fix. However it IS a unibody so be careful, it can be easily totaled.

I've had my prior jeep going tail first down a Colorado mountain road, and gathered it up; to head first and continued to work?. Few vehicles have the overall abilities that are as affordable and comfortable as the 96-98 Jeep GC... When Buying, look underneath for oil leakage, if select -track place in 4wd and verify smooth turning to avoid expensive blown VC, check AC, and be aware that the "limited" comes with leather and premium sound. Perhaps you might want to hold out for heated seats, but be prepared to not buy the first you see.

Gotta love this little workhorse. My jeep has been used and abused and still acts brand new. I love my jeep, most reliable car i have ever owned.

bought used less than a year ago and one of the best used cars i have owned. my only concern is the mpg but better than my old truck. took it from savannah to upstate new york and it performed great. love the curise control; that and the radio controls are right on the steering wheel and helps you keep you eye on the road when searching for stations.

I have a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 limited edition with the 4.0 inline 6 engine. Now I've had it for about a year now and I still wouldn't trade it for anything. Its 15 years old and now has 45,000 original miles on it. For those of you who want a short review just to compare to other vehicles, here it is. These first generation grand cherokees are reliable. They are different than any new grand cherokees and in my opinion, better. Pretty much every single component stands up to the test or time, and they are very resistant to rust. As far as drivability goes, its a small SUV and drives like a truck. Its a lot of fun to drive and you have the confidence to tackle pretty much anything in your path. Comparing this to most 90's and early 2000's suvs, this is the most capable and reliable. I Highly recommend driving one before buying. Now fort those of you who are really into getting one of these and want some more info, here it is. I'll cover most aspects starting with comfort. 1993-1995 seats are plush and super comfortable. In 96-98 they changed and made them a little smaller and modern, but still very comfortable and great for trips. Those of you who worry about it being too squishy and having no support, it has lumbar support, so no worries. The seats aren't very tall so a taller person will have to pull the headrest all the way up. Handling is different from many other cars. It is not tight at all but very easy to steer. There is some play but thats the way they are supposed to be. I got used to it after a week of ownership. It does have some body roll. Enough that you may lean a little bit on tight or fast turns but surprisingly good considering its suspension. In later grand cherokees, you lose visibility and softness that I have only found in these first generations. FEATURES! Pretty much any stock chrysler stereo is going to impress over competitors systems. Most have the Infinity Gold 6 speaker sound system which is very clear and very powerful. You will not be disappointed. Located underneath the digital automatic climate control(optional), There is a "Vehicle information center" which lets you know if something is open or if you need an oil change or EVEN IF YOU HAVE A BURNT OUT BULB! Thats impressive. You also have outside temp, an average and instant mpg gauge and much more. Interior room: Now these jeeps are meant for offroading, not hauling kids and diapers to moms house. You can in a pinch, but the spare tire takes up some room in the back. Headroom in the back is good but with small doors it is hard for larger people to enter and exit. Rear seats fold flat to increase cargo room and it is easy to strap cargo onto the roof. Most amenities are still fully functional even after 15-20 years. Every single thing in mine still works including power windows, seats, mirrors, and all components. Mine has the 4 liter 6 cylinder and power isnt bad. Its nothing super fast but gets the job done and still climbs hills no problem and you can get almost 25 mpg highway if you are light footed. This jeep always surprises me with features I have discovered one by one, and with its off road performance. Ive never been stuck and I pull out about 15 people each winter no problem. The 4 wheel drive systems that are offered are far more advanced than other systems offered at the time. If you are considering one, I would recommend looking for a limited model if using for a daily driver. There are still many of these out there and you can pick one up for a very good price. I would recommend this vehicle to anybody who wants a reliable, capable, comfortable truck/suv that is on a budget. It is truly a well engineered truck. I hope this review helps!